Clay School Board turns down charter school application

Superintendent Charlie Van Zant Jr. and the district’s Charter School Review Committee recommended the board deny the application for the proposed kindergarten through fifth grade charter school to serve 272 students in Orange Park.

The Rev. Alesia Ford-Burse, who led the effort to establish the academy, said she will appeal to the state. She accused those who opposed the application of having “an underlying agenda” and bias against charter schools.

Studdard said the application didn’t meet the state criteria, therefore she had no choice but to vote against it regardless of how well-intentioned the school might be.

“There’s not a board member up here who doesn’t want the arts in schools. … We have to do what is in the best interest of the children,” Studdard said.

But Bullock agreed with Ford-Burse’s call to take a leap of faith and support the academy’s application despite its flaws.

“I believe this would open doors for students. I believe taking a risk is something you have to do,” Bullock said.

This was the second time in three months district officials recommended denial of the academy’s application. In October, the board waived its own policy and allowed the academy to amend its original application, which the committee found was rife with deficiencies and flaws.